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30-513: Archaeological findings suggest that the native Esquimalt and Songhees peoples have a longstanding connection to the Esquimalt Lagoon and Coburg Peninsula. For thousands of years, these Indigenous communities occupied and utilized the lagoon for subsistence, and spiritual purposes. The area provided abundant resources such as fish, birds, mammals, berries, roots, tubers, and clam beds at the lagoon's entrance for harvest. European influence in

60-406: A large kype (hooked beak) which is used to attract a mate during spawning, with males having a more pronounced kype than females. The coho salmon's lower jaw can be distinguished by a light shade at its superior edge. Once the mature coho has reached three or four years old, it swims up freshwater rivers and streams to spawn (reproduce). Once reaching a suitable location, females dig a divot in

90-500: A light-pink or rose shading along the belly, and the males may show a slight arching of the back. Mature adults have a pronounced red skin color with darker backs and spots, with females having darker shades than males. Coho salmon average 20 to 28 inches (50.8 to 71 cm) and 7 to 11 pounds (3.2 to 5.0 kg), occasionally reaching up to 36 pounds (16 kg). Size can vary depending on age and geographic location. Males tend to be slightly larger than females. Mature adults also develop

120-587: A resilient ecosystem. The nearby First Nation communities of the Esquimalt Nation , Songhees Nation , and Beecher Bay Nation are working directly with the City of Colwood to protect the waterfront from climate change and sea level rise at the Esquimalt lagoon.  Their future plan will include the management of shoreline sediment processes, infrastructure and service provisions, and the enhancement and protection of

150-419: A staple in the diet of several indigenous peoples , who would also use it to trade with other tribes farther inland. The coho salmon is also a symbol of several tribes, representing life and sustenance. In their freshwater stages, coho feed on plankton and aquatic invertebrates in the benthos and water column, such as Chironomids , midge larvae, and terrestrial insects that fall into the water. Upon entering

180-850: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Coho salmon The coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ; Karuk : achvuun ) is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family and one of the five Pacific salmon species. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon (or "silvers") and is often sold as medium red salmon . The scientific species name is based on the Russian common name kizhuch (кижуч). During their ocean phase, coho salmon have silver sides and dark-blue backs with spots on their back and upper tail lobe. During their spawning phase, their jaws and teeth become hooked. After entering fresh water, they develop bright-red sides, bluish-green heads and backs, dark bellies and dark spots on their backs. Sexually maturing fish develop

210-558: Is currently unknown, but the salmon species is farmed at several locations in Europe, making it probable that the animal has slipped the net at such a farm. The total North Pacific harvest of coho salmon in 2010 exceeded 6.3 million fish, of which 4.5 million were taken in the United States and 1.7 million in Russia. This corresponds to some 21,000 tonnes in all. Coho salmon are the backbone of

240-477: Is one of the most popular sport fish in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. Its popularity is due in part to the reckless abandon which it frequently displays chasing bait and lure while in salt water , and the large number of coastal streams it ascends during its spawning runs. Its habit of schooling in relatively shallow water, and often near beaches, makes it accessible to anglers on

270-754: The Esquimalt people . Historically their village was located closer to Victoria proper, but today their main reserve is on the north shore of Esquimalt Harbour adjacent to the Town of View Royal . They are a member nation of the First Nations of South Island Tribal Council , and were signatories to the Douglas Treaties . 48°25′50″N 123°24′53″W  /  48.4306°N 123.4147°W  / 48.4306; -123.4147 This First Nations in Canada –related article

300-627: The smolt stage. Smolts are generally 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) and as their parr marks fade and the adult's characteristic silver scales start to dominate. Smolts migrate to the ocean from late March through July. Some fish leave fresh water in the spring, spend summer in brackish estuarine ponds, and then return to fresh water in the fall. Coho salmon live in salt water for one to three years before returning to spawn . Some precocious males, known as "jacks", return as two-year-old spawners. Spawning males develop kypes, which are strongly hooked snouts and large teeth . The traditional range of

330-499: The Alaskan troll fishery, though the majority are caught by the net fishery ( gillnet and seine fishing ). They average 3.5% by fish and 5.9% by weight of the annual Alaska salmon harvest. The North Pacific yields of pink salmon , chum salmon and sockeye salmon are about 15 times larger by weight. In North America, coho salmon is a game fish in fresh and salt water from July to December, especially with light fishing tackle . It

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360-590: The Esquimalt Lagoon through rising sea-levels and temperatures, which causes a loss of habitat.  The intertidal marsh is considered to be acting resilient against climate change.  The salt marsh acts as a carbon sequestration system and also adds protection against flooding.  However the rising-sea levels will continue to cause a loss of low-lying lands, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion and soil salination.  Rising temperatures are also altering key ecosystem functions like phenology , reproduction, nutrient cycling, and other vital functions necessary for

390-509: The area began in 1854 with the establishment of a British naval base and firing range. The Gold Rush of 1858 brought a influx of settlers to the region, leading to the establishment of farms and industries. In 1931 the Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary was established with the purpose of protecting migratory species of birds that travel through the pacific by providing a safe space for them to roost. Currently,

420-528: The banks, as well as in boats. It is also pursued by fly fishermen in salt water. Ocean-caught coho is regarded as excellent table fare. It has a moderate to high amount of fat, which is considered to be essential when judging taste. Only spring chinook and sockeye salmon have higher levels of fat in their meat. When smoking coho it is best to use a cold-smoking rather than hot-smoking process, due to their lower fat content compared to sockeye and chinook. Historically coho, along with other species, has been

450-671: The coho salmon runs along both sides of the North Pacific Ocean, from Hokkaidō , Japan and eastern Russia, around the Bering Sea to mainland Alaska , and south to Monterey Bay, California . Coho salmon have also been introduced in all the Great Lakes , as well as many landlocked reservoirs throughout the United States . A number of specimens, (more than 20), were caught in waters surrounding Denmark and Norway in 2017. Their source

480-475: The ecological elements.  To further protect the wildlife, the Esquimalt was established as a sanctuary in 1931 by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The Esquimalt Lagoon is used by various bird species year round, including many gulls, ducks and shorebirds. There are seasonal differences in the number of birds visiting the lagoon, and numbers typically peak in the late summer and fall during migration. Common species of birds that can be found within

510-480: The eggs. Unchosed males also sneak in to release milt at this time. Once all eggs are laid, she covers them with rocks and pebbles using her tail. The adults then begin semelparity , whereby they stop eating and deteriorate to death. The eggs hatch in the late winter or early spring after six to seven weeks in the redd . Once hatched, they remain mostly immobile in the redd during the alevin life stage, which also lasts for six to seven weeks. Alevin no longer have

540-547: The lagoon is used by residents and tourists alike for outdoor activities such as kayaking and scuba diving, as well as watching its unique wildlife. The lagoon lies on the territory of the Esquimalt and the Songhees Nation , and nearby resides the Beecher Bay Nation .  These nations gathered plant resources, including essential materials, root tubers, and berries from the shoreline and harbour.  They also used

570-422: The lagoon provide foraging opportunities and nesting areas for both migratory and resident birds. Many aquatic species, including Coho salmon and Cutthroat trout , enter the lagoon through streams that flow into the lagoon. Other species, including river otters ( Lontra canadensis ) can also be found at the Esquimalt Lagoon. Bivalves , sand dollars , sea lettuce and eelgrass are also commonly found within

600-536: The lagoon. The great blue heron, which can be seen on site at the Esquimalt Lagoon, is considered to be a species of concern, and is listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The number of herons found here typically peaks in the spring and summer. Esquimalt First Nation Esquimalt First Nation , also known as the Esquimalt Indian Band and Esquimalt Nation , is a First Nations band government of

630-877: The land the hunt, fish, and collect shellfish. It is reported that the nations split their time between the Esquimalt lagoon and the Gulf and San Juan Islands based on the seasons. In 1849 Aboriginal Title was recognized and Esquimalt Nation was one of fourteen nations to sign the Douglas treaty over 150 years ago. Though they retain Aboriginal Title under the Douglas treaty and the right to hunt on unoccupied land, Esquimalt Nation has identified one of its current challenges as understanding what these rights mean for them if resources are no longer available due to urban development; including forest and fisheries management. Established on December 12, 1931, The Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory bird Sanctuary

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660-469: The listed populations is still downward, though there was one recent good year with an increasing trend in 2001. The Puget Sound / Strait of Georgia ESU in Washington is an NMFS "Species of Concern". Species of Concern are those species for which insufficient information prevents resolving the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 's concerns regarding status and threats and whether to list

690-432: The marine environment, they switch to a diet of plankton and fish, with fish making up most of their diets after a certain size. Adult coho feed on a vast variety of prey items that depend on the region they reside in during their second year at sea. Spawning habitats are small streams with stable gravel substrates. Salmonid species on the west coast of the United States have experienced dramatic declines in abundance during

720-475: The northern California coast), predation by the California sea lion and Pacific harbor seal , and commercial timber harvesting. More than 680,000 coho salmon returned to Oregon in 2009, double that of 2007. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife required volunteers to herd fish into hatchery pens. Some creeks were reported to have so many fish, "you could literally walk across on the backs of coho," claimed

750-417: The park are Canada geese ( Branta cabadebsis ), mallards ( Anas okatyrhynchos ), American wigeons ( Mareca americana ), northern pintails ( A. acuta ), greater and lesser scaups ( Aythya marila / affinis ), and hooded mergansers ( Lophodytes cucullatus ). There have been a total of 229 different bird species reported at the site. The mudflats, eelgrass and estuary marsh habitats surrounding and within

780-669: The past several decades as a result of human-induced and natural factors. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has identified seven populations, called Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs), of coho salmon in Washington , Oregon and California. Four of these ESUs are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). These are the Lower Columbia River (threatened), Oregon Coast (threatened), Southern Oregon and Northern California Coasts (threatened), and Central California Coast (endangered). The long-term trend for

810-399: The protective egg shell, or chorion , and rely on their yolk sacs for nourishment during growth. The alevin life stage is very sensitive to aquatic and sedimental contaminants. When the yolk sac is completely resorbed, the alevin leaves the redd. Young coho spend one to two years in their freshwater natal streams, often spending the first winter in off-channel sloughs, before transforming to

840-420: The riverbed by flexing their tails and loosing rocks from the riverbed, repeating for up to seven nests, each called a redd. Females become extremely aggressive with each other over nesting sites, and with males until these are dug. Males then fight for the right to mate. Once a female has chosen a mate, usually the largest male, she lays her eggs onto the redd, while he simultaneously releases milt (sperm) onto

870-814: The species under the ESA. On May 6, 1997, NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce , listed as threatened the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon ESU. The coho salmon population in the Southern Oregon/Northern California region has declined from an estimated 150,000–400,000 naturally spawning fish in the 1940s to fewer than 10,000 naturally producing adults today. These reductions are due to natural and man-made changes, including short-term atmospheric trends (such as El Niño , which causes extremes in annual rainfall on

900-511: Was created in Colwood, British Columbia , with the objective of providing a safe haven for migratory birds on the Pacific coast. Due to its shallow tidal waters, the abundant shelter and resources found within, and due to having two gravel-bar islands and a rocky outcrop for loafing, the Esquimalt Lagoon sanctuary has become one of the most important Birding spots in the region. Climate change will affect

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